Tools

[qsilverza]

Hi,

Looking to buy the following,

Welder - Fabrication/fixing metal chairs etc for home use and automotive

What do I need to look for ? Easy to use ? Just something good to do the job...

Arc/Tig etc etc I have no idea ? But going to start playing with one... (And dont give me bla bla go and learn I'll just read safety instructions and have a play)

Air compressor - Brake lines/Spray painting etc. again what to look for, something to do the job and reliable...

More than happy to scour the net looking for deals on good known brands etc I like a bargain

[GoLfMan]

Welder: If you looking for a great all round welder I'd go a MIG. Very simple to use. Perfect for fabrication and Automotive purposes. Get one that takes Gas and you'll be onto a winner!

Air Compressor: Look for a twin cylinder with a 50L+ tank, that'll be around $600+. I've had a single cylinder 40L tank and while it was good for most things, it was rubbish for spray painting.

hope that helps

[qsilverza]

Thanks Golfman,

Bought this http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....=STRK:MEWAX:IT

and will purchase a welder in the near future

Welder: If you looking for a great all round welder I'd go a MIG. Very simple to use. Perfect for fabrication and Automotive purposes. Get one that takes Gas and you'll be onto a winner!

Air Compressor: Look for a twin cylinder with a 50L+ tank, that'll be around $600+. I've had a single cylinder 40L tank and while it was good for most things, it was rubbish for spray painting.

hope that helps

[GoLfMan]

looks the goods mate!

[Peter Jones]

Great score on the compressor, that's a good buy.

Mine has the same pump and a 50L tank and manages spraying and blasting fine.

I'd go the MIG too if I were setting up again. Don't bother with gassless type, they're pants. Best on you can afford, make sure the spare parts and consumables are available near you.

Pete

[qsilverza]

Thanks, it did look cheap, I don't know if it's really a 100 L as I did a search for them and I think it's 60 Litres but still a good unit for the price Probably the biggest you can go without three phase power I would think...

are there any pressurised air tools you can buy to help with brake bleeding ? I have seen the kit ECS has but I though there might be something like that for air pressure tools ?

Yippee, now to get ratchet gun/dye grinder and Air saw (Care-full haha)/spray painter

Great score on the compressor, that's a good buy.

Mine has the same pump and a 50L tank and manages spraying and blasting fine.

I'd go the MIG too if I were setting up again. Don't bother with gassless type, they're pants. Best on you can afford, make sure the spare parts and consumables are available near you.

Pete

[GoLfMan]

yup!

there are air bleeder kits out there.... very VERY useful!!!

[qsilverza]

actually it is a 100 Litre http://www.transquip.com.au/product....885&PARENT=559

[Preen59]

Welder-

Lincoln are quite good. Also try UniMIG. I've used both (Have a 250 amp single phase UniMIG with detachable wirefeeder at the workshop.. ) and they are quite good. I've used a few others of various brands that were OK, but I know and trust those two.

I would look at minimum 200 amps single phase and like Pete said- Don't bother with gasless wire. 0.9mm wire is great for general stuff. You can weld down to 1.5mm and up to 20mm plate with 0.9 (provided your machine is big enough). If you want to do mainly sheet metal (car panels etc) set it up with 0.6mm wire.

As with anything, the more you spend, the better the machine. 3 phase machines are the bomb, but you'll be talking 3k minimum. A good 200 amp single phase welder will probably be all you will need. I welded up most of (read:nearly all) our Dragster trailer with a little lincoln 200 amp MIG quite successfully.


I don't want to tell you what to do, but a basic welding course at TAFE is a good idea unless you know someone (competent) that can help you. I've never done one but i've had the advantage of being taught by one of the best in Australia. (Not blowing my own trumpet- I'm not that good. )

[Peter Jones]

I bought a MIG and made this using 0.9mm wire



Mine's a MagMate pro from BOC.

BOC are just across the road from me. I don't have time to chase around after parts or consumables so I just went local. MagMates are Chinese origin but offer better features for you $ over the BOC branded units. This one has a proper Binzel detachable torch whereas the BOC units for the same price are lower current captive torch and not as adjustable.

I have a BOC account too which makes things a little simpler. (I also have oxy and arc welders.)



The very small Lincolns are good for panel work.

Avoid stuff from e-bay unless you're very sure that parts can be easily sourced, there are quite a few bits that need routine replacement like tips, shrouds and pinch rollers. They're small and cheap parts but if you can't buy 'em you'll render your MIG useless.

A good MIG makes you look like a welding genius.

Pete

[Preen59]

A good MIG makes you look like a welding genius.

Yes it does! haha.

[mikepologti]

this sounds like the welder for me. most of my welds look like a picaso. my arc welds are even worse. id love to be able to do that kinda stuff.

[Jmac]

Great advice guys, good to read decent stuff instead of jibber. I run a twin cyl trade tools renegade in my van, im happy with that. Onto the welder i totally agree with having spares at hand, nothing worse than saving a quid but spending a fortune on spares and waiting a lifetime for them. i wouldnt mind getting a decent wee welder as cheap as i can afford but still good enough for at least fixing broken pedal boxes and likes, and modifiying tools. Thats one down of havong my father in the Uk still , he is a Gun on the mig, he has put floor pans in countless Kombis and Beetles the poor bugger. He still does Porsches, Audis and the likes in his spare time.He is a brickie go figure
Self taught at the welding but gun., yeah one of those types!!!
TAFE courses are hard to get well up here anyway. 1st one i see running up here im on it. I was taught a tech college with gas merey to weld exhausts and braze the odd thing.
Mig is a great weapon
Jmac